She alleges that, even after extensive changes to the musical made in April, the production still uses approximately 25% of her original script contributions, for which she has not been receiving royalties. Last week, it was confirmed that Taymor, not her replacement Philip William McKinley, would be eligible for the best director Tony award.

Charles Spada, a member of Taymor's legal team, said: "The producers have failed to compensate Ms Taymor for their continued use of her work to date, despite the fact that the show has consistently played to capacity or near-capacity houses since its first public performance in November 2010."

He continued: "Ms Taymor regrets that the producers' actions have left her no choice but to resort to legal recourse to protect her rights."

The lawsuit, first reported by website Showbiz411.com, claims that Taymor was paid $52,880 last week to cover royalties up until 17 April, when the musical closed for re-rehearsal. It follows an arbitration claim filed on Taymor's behalf in June, seeking $500,000 from lead producers Michael Cohl and Jeremiah Harris. The claim alleged that, following a $125,000 fee paid five years previously, Taymor had received nothing in royalties since previews had begun.

According to the New York Times, Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark has regularly grossed between $1.4 and $1.6m a week. That number is not as significant as it sounds: the musical has operating costs of more than $1m per week in addition to royalty obligations and repayments on loans that made up part of the production's $75m initial costs – a figure twice as high as any previous Broadway show.

Taymor is also seeking an injunction preventing any unauthorised use of her name or likeness in a "making-of" documentary made by the producers.

Cohl and Harris responded to the legal action in a statement yesterday: "Since Ms Taymor's departure in March, we have repeatedly tried to resolve these issues. The production has indeed compensated Ms Taymor for her contribution as a co-book writer. Fortunately the court system will provide, once and for all, an opportunity to resolve this dispute. We look forward to a resolution in which everyone is properly compensated for their contribution."